#101 The mountain mindset

The mountain mindset is a difficult concept to pin down, so much does it stem from personal experience. It nevertheless refers to a particular state of mind: a form of humility and awareness of your place in the world. Being surrounded by high peaks is a powerful reminder that human presence is a mere detail on the scale of these geological formations steeped in history. This humility puts things into perspective. The mountains are both a dangerous environment and a fragile one. Dangerous, as the accidents that occur there regularly remind us. Fragile, in the face of steadily rising visitor numbers over recent decades. To enter the mountains is to enter a space that must be preserved. The notion of respect is not an abstract ideal in this community; it is a concrete requirement to apply on every outing.

An implicit code of conduct

Every mountain-goer has their own reasons for heading into the mountains, their own discipline and their own level. So that everyone can fully enjoy these spaces, a tacit code of good conduct has taken hold in the community:

• Respect others, whatever their discipline, level or experience. Letting a mountain biker pass only takes a few seconds; getting annoyed about it spoils the experience for everyone.
• Respect everyone's choices: each rope party or group sets its own rules of engagement and conditions for moving forward. Unless there is an obvious safety risk, unsolicited comments are best avoided.
• Respect the peace of the environment: camp at a reasonable distance from other groups, do not impose loud sounds, music or smoke on others. The mountains are often sought out as a space of silence and disconnection.

This framework is not an arbitrary constraint. Other mountain-goers are the first safety net in the event of an accident, and the community's solidarity rests on this mutual respect.

Mutual aid as the norm

The ethics of the mountain community assume that everyone agrees to help their neighbor, within the limits of the risks it is reasonable to take. Failing to assist a group in distress out of concern for your own schedule is considered a serious fault.

Protecting the environment

Every mountain-goer is responsible for minimizing their impact on the environment they pass through. The basic principles — packing out your waste, not damaging vegetation, not disturbing wildlife — are detailed on the page #101 - Protecting our environment. Coexistence in the mountains is, as everywhere, a balancing act. But in these wild, peaceful spaces, far from the urban bustle, it is often easier — provided everyone plays their part.